Philadelphia Eagles defensive end Bryce Huff has had a wild NFL journey, and that journey will take him from the Eagles to the San Francisco 49ers once the teams execute a trade that can’t be finalized until June 1.

Huff, an undrafted rookie in 2020, posted 7.5 sacks through his first three seasons. In 2023 he broke out with 10.0 sacks and a career-high 67 pressures before hitting the free agent market where he landed a three-year, $51.1 million contract with Philadelphia.

His one year with the Eagles didn’t go well. His numbers plummeted across the board and he wound up not suiting up for any of the team’s playoff games. The 49ers are hoping getting Huff back with defensive coordinator Robert Saleh will help him return to the form he found in 2023.

Eagles defensive lineman Brandon Graham, a 15-year veteran who played with Huff last season, provided some optimism on that front in an appearance on the Ross Tucker Podcast.

“I just think with the Jets, it was just that defense, man,” Graham said. “I know what it’s like playing in that 4-3, wide-9, ‘go get it’ every play. It’s always stop the run on the way to the quarterback, that’s the slogan in that type of defense. So, I feel like it’s all scheme. I’ve seen different guys flourish in different systems. Then you see them get in another system, it’s different. And what they asked of him this year, it just wasn’t a great marriage, I would say. Because I know Huff can rush, I see him doing all that, but sometimes it’s just different with the type of scheme, what people ask of you and what they want you to be able to do. And maybe it just wasn’t that for Vic Fangio or … I mean you don’t really know. I just know that he’s a baller, man. I want it to be a win-win for (the Eagles) and a win for him.”

Saleh became the head coach of the New York Jets after the 2020 season. Huff in those three years played 40 games and put up 15.5 of his 20.0 career sacks. Last season in 12 games with the Eagles he had only 2.5 sacks and 20 pressures in 182 pass rush snaps.

If Graham is correct about Huff fitting with the 49ers’ scheme it would mean Huff is a major lift for a pass rush that struggled to affect opposing quarterbacks last season. If the change of scenery doesn’t help, it could mean another long year of trying to piece together a pass rush for the 49ers coaching staff.

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